Sandusky is located at the mouth of the large bay of the same name and on the shores of Lake Erie. It's about halfway between Cleveland (66 driving miles) to the east and Toledo (62 driving miles) to the west.

Established as a British military and trading post in 1744, the area around what would become Sandusky Ohio was first occupied by the Seneca peoples who had been driven here from New York State by the hostilities of the Revolutionary War. During the first half of the 1800s before slavery was abolished, the area was an important Underground Railroad stop. It was here that escaping slaves boarded the ferry across the lake to freedom in Amherstburg in Ontario, Canada.

Today Sandusky is a very popular vacation destination due primarily to historic Cedar Point Amusement Park. This park was opened in 1870, and is the third oldest amusement park in all of North America after Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, and Six Flags New England located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Some of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world are located here. Because of the large crowds drawn to Cedar Point, a number of other major indoor and outdoor waterparks have also moved to the area.

Ohio Map

In spite of the popularity of Cedar Point and the other waterparks, the city of Sandusky Ohio has other attractions as well. Just offshore and within easy reach by chartered boats are three lovely islands that each offer a unique vacation paradise for visitors—Kelley's Island, Middle Bass Island, and South Island with its Victorian era village of Put-in-Bay. Here there is fishing, boating, kayaking, cave tours, golfing, and birding. There are also great beaches and great restaurants, secluded camping areas on lovely beaches, rustic cabins, and resort hotels.

Sandusky itself is a very pretty city, with nice riverfront walks. There is regular scheduled boat service out to the islands if you just want to go for a day trip. During the summer, there is a daily ferry to the Canada mainland. Also in the bay and accessible by car is little Johnson Island, which served as a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. All that is left of the camp is the Confederate Cemetery, which provides a fascinating glimpse back into history.

Virtually all visitors to Sandusky Ohio will arrive by road. The closest major airports are in Toledo and Cleveland, both a bit more than an hour's drive away. There are airport shuttle and bus options, which are useful for those staying in one of the Cedar Point or waterpark resort hotels. There are a few of these, and they are fairly self-contained, including everything from beautiful beaches to shopping outlets and numerous dining options. However, renting a car gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel around and visit the surrounding countryside.

Other attractions in the city include the Merry-Go-Round Museum, with rare and unusual carousel animals and an antique carousel. The Follett House Museum is located in an elegant historic home and contains a wonderful collection documenting the history of the city and region.